Evidence for high-grade face masks was weak, Covid inquiry told

There’s solely “weak proof” that high-grade face masks higher protected well being staff than surgical ones within the pandemic, the Covid inquiry has been instructed.

Prof Susan Hopkins, chief medical adviser on the UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA), stated respirator masks – often known as FFP3s – might have carried out no higher than skinny surgical masks in real-life conditions.

She stated there may very well be “vital harms” from sporting tight-fitting FFP3s, together with blisters and respiration difficulties.

“If the proof was robust that FFP3s actually protected folks, and we noticed a definitive discount [in infections], they might have been advisable,” she stated.

Not all scientists agree on what has develop into a controversial challenge.

The BBC has beforehand reported on analysis which seems to point out a major real-world profit from sporting higher-grade masks on hospital wards.

All through the primary two years of the pandemic, teams representing medical doctors, nurses and different well being staff repeatedly referred to as for pressing enhancements to non-public protecting gear (PPE), together with the broader use of respirators.

FFP3s are tight-fitting masks with a built-in air filter designed to dam out tiny aerosol particles which may carry the virus.

Earlier than they can be utilized, every wearer should bear a match check, to verify the masks is correctly sealed to the face.

For many of the pandemic, nationwide steering throughout the entire UK stated that healthcare staff ought to put on fundamental surgical masks slightly than FFP3s, besides in intensive care or a small variety of medical conditions.

The choice was closely criticised by some employees with the medical doctors’ union, the BMA, calling it a “matter of life and demise”.

Nationwide steering on face masks from April 2020 was drawn up by a gaggle of specialists from throughout the UK often known as the IPC (An infection Prevention and Management) Cell.

Its membership included representatives from the NHS, authorities departments and well being our bodies, together with Public Well being England (PHE), the organisation changed by UKHSA in 2021 in a shake-up ordered by then-Well being Secretary Matt Hancock.

The inquiry was proven minutes from an IPC Cell assembly on 22 December 2020, simply after the brand new Alpha variant of Covid had been detected, which appeared to point out disagreement about the usage of higher-grade FFP3 masks.

The data quote Dr Colin Brown, now the deputy director of scientific and rising infections at UKHSA however on the time with PHE, as saying: “Our understanding of aerosol transmission has modified. A precautionary strategy to maneuver to FFP3 masks [in all healthcare settings] while we’re awaiting proof needs to be suggested.”

Nevertheless, the broader IPC Cell determined that no upgrading of the steering was warranted on the time, and NHS trusts had been instructed to proceed to provide employees with customary surgical masks in virtually all instances exterior intensive care.

It was not till January 2022 that the recommendation modified, saying that FFP3 respirators needs to be accessible to “all related employees” relying on a threat evaluation.

By that time, the World Well being Group, and different well being our bodies, had recognised Covid may very well be unfold in tiny airborne particles over distances longer than 6.5ft (2m), one thing officers stated was not possible in the beginning of the pandemic.

Prof Hopkins, who served as PHE’s chief Covid adviser earlier than shifting throughout to UKHSA, instructed the inquiry that FFP3 masks supplied a excessive diploma of safety in laboratory research, however the real-world advantages had been much less clear-cut.

“The place we checked out it, and repeatedly checked out it and are nonetheless taking a look at it, the proof is weak that FFP3s protected greater than fluid-resistant surgical masks,” she stated.

“On the outset, in March 2020, the dangers had been that we had by no means requested folks to put on FFP3 masks for extended durations.

“We noticed them get ulcers on their faces and having challenges respiration and challenges in being hydrated.”

Requested in regards to the December 2020 IP Cell minutes, which advised PHE was pushing behind-the-scenes for the broader use of respirator masks in healthcare, Prof Hopkins stated that was a “actually difficult time” within the pandemic with the UK about to enter a 3rd wave of the virus.

“The truth that PHE was giving and airing a special view is an instance of [us] not being concerned in groupthink,” she stated.

The Covid inquiry is at present taking proof in regards to the affect on the NHS and healthcare techniques throughout all 4 nations of the UK.

Greater than 50 witnesses are anticipated to look on this third part or “module”, which runs till the tip of November.